Tighter gun law eyed to deny permits to stalkers, abusers

The National Police Agency plans to overhaul the gun control law for the first time in 28 years to keep firearms from stalkers, spouse abusers, bankrupt people and those with suicidal tendencies, sources said Thursday.

The changes will also include a clause requiring a psychiatric check of applicants for gun permits "if necessary."

The agency plans to submit a bill to revise the Firearms and Sword Control Law in the next Diet session, according to the sources.

The NPA's move stems from a shooting rampage at a gym in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 14 last year. Two people died and the 37-year-old gunman later committed suicide.

The killer had gun permits despite neighbors' complaints about his odd behavior.

Following the incident, police conducted blanket checks on owners of registered hunting rifles and airguns around the country. During these checks, police instructed 238 people with 384 guns in their possession to return their permits because of lack of use of the weapon, erratic behavior, and other reasons.

In all of 2006, police told 58 people to return their permits.

At the time of the police checks, about 154,000 people had gun permits for a total of about 320,000 weapons.

Under the current law, alcoholics, drug addicts, mentally ill patients, perpetrators who committed felonies with the guns, people of no fixed address, and others are prohibited from owning firearms.

The NPA plans to add to the list those who have committed stalking or domestic violence offenses.

People suspected of committing felonies, regardless of the weapon used, will also be denied permits.

To prevent shooting incidents caused by problems with relationships or debts, the agency plans to disqualify people who are financially broke or highly susceptible to committing suicide, the sources said.

Those whose permits have been rescinded will have to wait longer than the current five-year period to reapply, according to the sources.

The revised law will also allow authorities to order a psychiatric test if it is deemed necessary for an applicant.

To address the growing number of gun accidents involving senior citizens, the agency is considering a test to examine their cognitive functions and a system to store their firearms temporarily.

During the police checks, 50 gun owners were instructed to return their permits because they had not fired the weapons in three years.

Mental illnesses were cited in 45 cases, involvement in criminal activity in 41, advanced age in 31, domestic violence and trouble with neighbors in 13 each, and stalking in five.(IHT/Asahi: April 4,2008)